MODULAR AIR CONTROL SYSTEM FOR BED

1 .- 20 . (canceled)

21 . A bed system comprising:

a foundation having a first foundation side and a second foundation side, the foundation configured to support a mattress, the foundation defining a foundation aperture extending between the first foundation side and the second foundation side;

an air controller having an outlet, the air controller configured to move air into or out of the mattress through the outlet; and

a controller retainer configured to detachably couple the air controller to the foundation proximate to the foundation aperture thereby aligning the outlet of the air controller with the foundation aperture, the controller retainer comprising:

a first attachment plate configured to be placed at the first foundation side; and

a second attachment plate placed at the second foundation side and coupled to the first attachment plate through the foundation aperture, the second attachment plate configured to receive the air controller.

22 . The bed system of claim 21 , wherein the first attachment plate comprises a plurality of engagement connectors and the second attachment plate comprises a plurality of receivers, each engagement connector of the plurality of engagement connectors configured to couple with an associated receiver of the plurality of receivers.

23 . The bed system of claim 22 , wherein each engagement connector and associated receiver define a respective interference fit to couple the first attachment plate to the second attachment plate.

24 . The bed system of claim 22 , wherein the plurality of engagement connectors comprise one or more of plastic tubelike connectors, protrusions, or fasteners.

25 . The bed system of claim 21 , further comprising a plenum coupled to the first attachment plate, the plenum configured to receive an air duct house extending from the mattress positioned on the first foundation side.

26 . The bed system of claim 25 , wherein the first attachment plate defines a pair of openings, and the plenum comprises a pair of engagement tabs configured to flex to snap into the pair of openings, thereby removably coupling the plenum to the first attachment plate.

27 . The bed system of claim 26 , wherein the second attachment plate comprises a locking tab at a first end of the second attachment plate, the locking tab extending away from the second foundation side and including a snapping end that is configured to engage with an engagement portion of the air controller to couple the air controller to the first end of the second attachment plate.

28 . The bed system of claim 27 , wherein the locking tab is configured to be engaged by a tool, and

wherein the locking tab is configured to, based on the tool being engaged with the locking tab, flex to disengage the snapping end of the locking tab from the engagement portion of the air controller.

29 . The bed system of claim 27 , wherein the locking tab is accessible from the first foundation side through a first opening in the first attachment plate.

30 . The bed system of claim 28 , wherein the first end of the controller retainer is located opposite a second end of the controller retainer relative to a second opening through the first attachment plate, the second opening of the first attachment plate configured to line up with a first opening of the second attachment plate to provide air from the air controller through the first and second attachment plates to the plenum.

31 . The bed system of claim 30 , wherein the air controller comprises a housing defining the engagement portion of the air controller, the engagement portion comprising an opening in the housing at a location corresponding to the first end of the second attachment plate.

32 . The bed system of claim 29 , wherein the air controller comprises a pivot bar, and the second attachment plate comprises a receiving cup at a second end of the second attachment plate, the receiving cup configured to receive the pivot bar, thereby coupling the air controller to the second attachment plate.

33 . The bed system of claim 21 , wherein the second attachment plate comprises (i) a locking tab at a bottom surface and extending from a first end of the second attachment plate, the locking tab configured to engage with an opening of the air controller and (ii) a receiving cup at a second end of the second attachment plate opposite the first end, the receiving cup configured to receive a pivot bar of the air controller.

34 . The bed system of claim 33 , wherein the first attachment plate includes engagement connectors along a perimeter of a bottom surface of the first attachment plate configured to snap fit into corresponding receivers along a perimeter of a top surface of the second attachment plate, thereby coupling the first attachment plate to the second attachment plate.

35 . The bed system of claim 33 , wherein the first attachment plate is placed at a top surface of the foundation and the second attachment plate is placed at a bottom surface of the foundation.

36 . The bed system of claim 33 , wherein the first attachment plate includes first and second apertures on opposing sides of a top surface of the first attachment plate configured to receive first and second locking tabs of a plenum.

37 . A bed system comprising:

a foundation having a first foundation side and a second foundation side, the foundation having a support surface that is configured to support a mattress on the first foundation side and defining a foundation aperture extending between the first foundation side and the second foundation side;

an air controller having an outlet and a coupling protrusion, the air controller configured to cause air to flow through the outlet; and

a controller retainer including:

a first attachment plate placed at the first foundation side; and

a second attachment plate placed at the second foundation side and including (i) a coupling receiver at a first portion of the second attachment plate configured to receive the coupling protrusion of the air controller and (ii) a locking tab at a bottom surface of the second attachment plate configured to engage with an engagement portion of the air controller,

wherein the controller retainer is configured to, based on the air controller being coupled to the controller retainer, align the outlet of the air controller with the foundation aperture to direct air through the mattress.

38 . The bed system of claim 37 , wherein the first attachment plate includes first and second apertures on opposing sides of a top surface of the first attachment plate, the first and second apertures configured to receive first and second locking tabs of a plenum.

39 . The bed system of claim 37 , wherein the first attachment plate includes engagement connectors along a perimeter of a bottom surface of the first attachment plate, and the second attachment plate includes receivers configured to snap fit to the engagement connectors of the first attachment plate, and

wherein the first attachment plate placed at the first foundation side is connected to the second attachment plate placed at the second foundation side with the engagement connectors of the first attachment plate snap-fitting the receivers of the second attachment plate at the foundation aperture.

40 . A method for assembling a bed, the method comprising:

fixing a controller retainer to a foundation by coupling a first attachment plate on a first side of the foundation to a second attachment plate on a second side of the foundation through an aperture in the foundation; and

coupling an air controller to the second attachment plate by:

inserting a locking tab extending from a first end of the second attachment plate through an engagement portion of the air controller in a first direction, thereby, engaging the locking tab to the air controller; and

inserting a pivot bar of the air controller into a receiving cup at a second end of the second attachment plate opposite the first end.

41 . The method of claim 40 , further comprising:

flexing the locking tab by engaging a tool between the locking tab and the engagement portion of the air controller;

moving the air controller away from the second attachment plate until the locking tab disengages from the engagement portion of the air controller; and

removing the engagement portion of the air controller from the locking tab, thereby separating the air controller from the second attachment plate.